Concerns have been raised about the inconsistent attendance of police sergeants and inspectors at ward meetings across Enfield, with some areas reporting no officer presence for extended periods. The expected role of these officers is to attend every Ward Panel meeting, with inspectors stepping in if sergeants are unavailable or ensuring cover.
During a meeting of the Safer Neighbourhood Board on Monday, 12th January 2026, it was acknowledged that this expectation is not consistently met. The Board was informed of an inconsistency in attendance across the borough, with specific examples highlighting the disparity.
The Southgate ward reported that no police officers had attended their meetings and the sergeant had not been seen in two years. This is a significant period, as ward meetings are typically planned a year in advance, with the next meeting in Brimsdown noted for Monday 13 April 2026. This suggests that extended periods of non-attendance are more noticeable given the likely frequency of these gatherings.
In contrast, the Brimsdown ward reported consistent police attendance. Their meetings are planned a year in advance, and officers are consistently informed and almost always attend. This proactive approach to scheduling and communication in Brimsdown offers a potential model for other wards.
Chief Inspector Rob Gibbs acknowledged these issues and agreed to address them to ensure greater commitment from sergeants. Actions were agreed for Sergeant Sophie Healy to contact Kathy Warrel, the proposed Chair for Town Ward, and for Inspector Richard Lee to reach out in the interim. Furthermore, Chairs and Vice-Chairs are to report repeated non-attendance directly to Chief Inspector Rob Gibbs. This reporting mechanism will serve as a form of data collection to track attendance.
An updated contact list of Sergeants and Inspectors will be re-circulated to facilitate communication and accountability. The minutes of the meeting can be found in the Minutes Safter Neighbourhood Board v2.
Internal police organizational changes, such as sergeant movements within these clusters,
are also subject to ongoing plans to align sergeants across clusters and improve attendance at ward meetings, indicating that structural adjustments are being considered to address the attendance issues.
